Peculiar Theory, in Which Many Had Faith, That Was Put Forward by John C. Symmes
John C. Symmes (1779–1829) believed that the globe was hollow and inhabited. He claimed the earth was open at the poles to admit air, and contained within it other concentric hollow globes all inhabited in a like manner. In 1823 congress was petitioned to send an expedition to test out his theory, with himself in charge, but the matter was dropped. Humboldt states that Symmes often invited himself and Humphry Davy to descend to the earth’s interior and investigate animal and plant life. Symmes said the inside of the earth was lighted by two subterranean suns which he named “Pluto” and “Proserpine.” Arctic exploration and the discovery of the north and south poles proved part of his theory a myth.
An official of Koreshan Unity says that the earth’s concavity is proved by an actual United States geodetic survey — “A straight line extended at right angles from a perpendicular post over land or water surface will meet the water or surface of the earth, at a distance proportionate to the height of the perpendicular.”
The Kevin Review, Kevin, MT, 24 May, 1923